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Rivers of Chocolate will be flowing again at Saratoga's Mountain Winery on Sunday, April 13. This is the seventh annual event to benefit Silicon Valley's Social Advocates for Youth. Nearly 30 chefs, chocolatiers and vintners showcase their talents according to a theme—this year it's Italy's Arno River, which flows through Florence. Enhancing the atmosphere will be props and lighting from several San Francisco theatrical companies. Savory dishes created by chefs from some of the Bay Area's premier restaurants will be served in the old winery's chateau, and numerous displays of food and drink for some 500 guests will be in the winery itself.
"Everybody is pouring their hearts out to turn these kids around," says event chairman Joseph Kleitman.
The SAY organization benefited from $100,000 earned by last year's event. Funds go to support at-risk youths and their families with emotional and legal counseling and safe housing.
Chef A.J. Szenda of Saratoga's Viaggio Ristorante will be in the chateau to serve spanakopita. His twist on the Greek appetizer is to fill the thin, layered phyllo-dough crusts with a chocolate truffle. He also plans chocolate-dipped strawberries and a delicate tiramisu, the Italian "pick me up" cake. "This is one of the few events in a year when chefs can get together," Szenda says. "There's a great comaraderie." Szenda has served his creations at all of the Rivers of Chocolate events since 1996.
Serving their first Rivers event will be two new local entrepreneurs: Jeff Alexander of Alexander Cellars and Hsing Chen of Confections by Hsing in Saratoga.
Alexander, 38, is both a winemaker and a distiller. His wines are used in several Los Gatos restaurants, but it's his gin under the label Sarticious that will be making history of sorts at the Rivers event. For the first time, martinis will be served from a table in the winery using Alexander's Sarticious gin. "Martinis go along with our Italian theme. Even though they came from New York, they sound Italian," laughs Gerry Lavity of SAY.
Alexander wholesales his Sarticious gin to Los Gatos Brewing Company, Black Watch Bar, Steamer's Grille and Viaggio Ristorante. He is trying to relocate his 21/2-year-old still from Alameda to Santa Cruz. "We're very California," he says. His gin is made with the freshest botanicals and is "softer on the body" because he takes time to cut the isopropyl alcohol, "which your liver doesn't like." He also claims a secret ingredient that gives his gin a flavorful "rounded palate." He invites guests of the River event to try his martini creations—one made with gin, orange juice, Chambord liqueur and a splash of 7Up; or another, a kamikazi with gin, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice and sweet and sour. Alexander can be reached at 408.399.5704.
Also taking her place at the event for the first time will be Hsing Chen, a 26-year-old native Saratogan and former television researcher for KRON in San Francisco and NBC in Los Angeles, who has just started a new career under the name Confections by Hsing. Chen is making mini chocolate and almond biscotti and is fashioning chocolate into a cup that will be filled with creamy espresso. Additionally, she is hand-dipping truffles infused with Earl Gray tea and bon bons filled with hazelnut praline. Chen can be reached at 408.406.9345 or http://www.chefhsing.com.
Tickets, $75 each, are limited to 500 and are in record demand, says Lavity, who feels that the event must be a "beacon of light in these gloomy times."
Rivers of Chocolate will be held April 13, 15 p.m., at the Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road in Saratoga. Call SAY for tickets, 408.253.3540, ext. 124, or visit http://www.riversofchocolate.org.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad